• House Republican leaders have made concessions to rank-and-file lawmakers as they work to advance their debt-limit legislation by the end of the week, amending the measure to appease midwestern GOP lawmakers concerned about the repeal of biofuel tax credits and to appease conservatives with stricter work requirements for social safety-net programs. (Punchbowl News) On the Senate side, Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and her GOP counterpart, Susan Collins of Maine, are working to agree on government funding totals for the next fiscal year — talks they hope could serve as a bipartisan framework for the spending debate that is emperiling debt-limit talks. (Politico)
• Chief Justice John Roberts declined an invitation from the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify on May 2 about legislation that would impose the same ethical standards on Supreme Court justices that are applied to the federal judiciary. (NPR News) As part of those talks, Sens. Angus King (I-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) have introduced bipartisan legislation that would require the Supreme Court to develop its own code of conduct within a year amid questions about Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch’s financial disclosures. (The Wall Street Journal)
• Former President Donald Trump suggested he may not participate in the Republican National Committee’s presidential primary debates as he raised concerns about potential moderators and venues. (USA Today) Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, one of Trump’s current rivals for the party’s nomination, gave a speech yesterday where she promised to address abortion “directly and openly,” but offered few specifics about her plan to reach a “national consensus” on the issue. (Politico)
• Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who was Biden’s chief rival for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 2020, endorsed Biden’s re-election and said he would not pursue another White House bid. (The Associated Press)

Happening today (all in ET):

• 10 a.m. House Republican leaders speak on debt-limit legislation. 

• 10 a.m. Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearing on Texas abortion pill ruling. 

• 10 a.m. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee holds confirmation hearing for Julie Su to serve as secretary of Labor. 

• 10 a.m. Senate in session.

• 12 p.m. House in session.

• 12:30 p.m. Biden holds joint press conference with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol.
• 2 p.m. American Federation of Teachers president testifies to House Oversight subcommittee. 

Biden Launches Campaign With Narrow Lead Over GOP Rivals, But His Standing Has Diminished Since Taking Office
Morning Consult

Biden rolls out red carpet for South Korea’s Yoon with state visit and new cooperation against North Korea’s nuclear threat
Betsy Klein and Kylie Atwood, CNN

President Joe Biden welcomes South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol to the White House for the full pomp and circumstance and hospitality of an official state visit – a high-stakes meeting amid ongoing provocations from North Korea, China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region and a recent leak of Pentagon documents.

Biden to visit Japan, Australia for meetings with allies
Zeke Millers, The Associated Press

President Joe Biden will visit Japan and Australia next month to huddle with allies on their continued response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as well as ways to confront China’s assertive economic and military moves in the Indo-Pacific region, the White House announced Tuesday.

ISIS-K leader behind deadly 2021 suicide bombing at Kabul airport killed by Taliban, White House says
Natasha Bertrand et al., CNN

The ISIS-K leader who planned the deadly 2021 suicide bombing at the Kabul international airport’s Abbey Gate was killed by the Taliban, according to the National Security Council.

White House works to garner support for Biden’s labor nominee ahead of key committee vote
Maegan Vazquez, CNN

A Senate committee is scheduled to hold a vote on Wednesday morning to consider whether to move forward with President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Department of Labor, Julie Su, marking a key milestone in the nomination process amid high-level efforts by the White House to push her confirmation forward.

‘Good riddance’: Pentagon officials cheer Tucker Carlson’s ouster
Lara Seligman, Politico

The former Fox host ridiculed top DoD leaders over Biden-era policies.

Biden Is Setting Up an $11 Billion Chips Network to Bolster US National Security
Eric Martin, Bloomberg

The Biden administration is setting up a network of advanced computer-chip design and engineering facilities, the focal point of plans to spend $11 billion on research and development to bolster US economic and national security.

Hunter Biden ordered to appear at Arkansas contempt hearing in a paternity-related case
Marshall Cohen, CNN

The judge overseeing an Arkansas paternity case involving Hunter Biden has ordered the president’s son to appear in court next Monday. Independence County Circuit Judge Holly Meyer ruled Monday that all parties involved in the case must appear for a contempt hearing next week in Batesville, Arkansas, according to court filings.

Republican Debt Ceiling Plan Would Boost Joblessness, Analysis Shows
Rich Miller, Bloomberg

The deficit reduction plan put forward by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as the price for lifting the debt ceiling would notably slow economic growth and increase unemployment next year if enacted, according to an analysis by Moody’s Analytics released Monday. 

No end in sight to Senate fight over military nominations
Leo Shane III, MIlitary Times

Nearly 200 military nominees remain in limbo before the Senate with no clear end in sight as a Republican senator continues his protest over Defense Department’s abortion access policies.

Recording of Cruz’s talk with Fox host sheds more light on plan to challenge 2020 results
Jacqueline Alemany and Sarah Ellison, The Washington Post

Sen. Ted Cruz advocated the creation of a congressionally appointed electoral commission ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol to make a credible assessment of unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election, according to a recording made by Abby Grossberg, a former producer at Fox News.

Comer threatens to subpoena Biden administration over Kerry documents
Rachel Frazin, The Hill

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) is threatening to subpoena the Biden administration over documents related to climate envoy John Kerry’s office and work. 

Chances that US could default on its debt in early June grow amid weak tax collections
Tami Luhby, CNN

It’s growing more likely that the US could default on its debt as soon as early June if Congress doesn’t act, according to a trio of new analyses.

Manhattan D.A. Seeks to Limit Trump’s Access to Some Evidence
Jonah E. Bromwich et al., The New York Times

Citing the investigation into Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents, a prosecutor asked a judge to only allow Mr. Trump to review some material with his lawyers present.

Jurors in the Trump rape case were advised to use fake names with each other to preserve their anonymity
Ashley Collman, Insider

The judge presiding over a rape claim trial involving former President Donald Trump advised potential jurors on Tuesday to use fake names with each other so they could preserve their anonymity. 

The Washington gambler
Ben Terris, The Washington Post

Sean McElwee, a young Democratic insider with friends in high places, bet on himself in the post-Trump era. But that wasn’t all he was betting on.

Fox loses $500 million in value after announcing Tucker Carlson is leaving
Aimee Picchi, CBS News

Fox Corporation’s worth as a public company has sunk more than $500 million after the media company on Monday announced that it is parting ways with star host Tucker Carlson, raising questions about the future of Fox News and the future of the conservative network’s prime time lineup.

Nate Silver Out at ABC News as Disney Layoffs Once Again Hit News Division
Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter

The second round of Disney layoffs hit ABC News on Tuesday, with Nate Silver’s data-driven politics and journalism brand FiveThirtyEight among those being impacted.

Old Beats Crazy
Gabriel Debenedetti, New York

Biden was always going to run again, and a longtime adviser explains how he might argue that age is but a number.

Top Dem super PAC starts Biden ad blitz, pledges $75 million campaign effort
Myah Ward, Politico

A top Democratic super PAC will launch a six-figure digital advertising blitz in six battleground states on Wednesday, a day after President Joe Biden kicked off his 2024 reelection campaign.

Inside Biden’s strategy to repair Harris’ image
Alex Thompson, Axios

Top White House officials are rushing to the aid of Vice President Kamala Harris to try to shore up her underwhelming poll numbers heading into 2024.

RNC slams Biden in AI-generated ad
Alex Thompson, Axios

The Republican National Committee responded to President Biden’s re-election announcement Tuesday with an AI-generated video depicting a dystopian version of the future if he is re-elected.

Trump zeroes in on a key target of his ‘retribution’ agenda: Government workers
Allan Smith, NBC News

A central part of Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential bid is a promise to dismantle the “deep state.”

Arizona Democrats Want the National Party to Join Their Fight to Oust Kyrsten Sinema
John Nichols, The Nation

Senate leaders are still trying to keep the independent happy. Arizona Dems are done with that.

Peter Thiel, Republican megadonor, won’t fund candidates in 2024
Anna Tong et al., Reuters

Tech billionaire and Republican megadonor Peter Thiel, an early backer of former President Donald Trump who later broke with him, has told associates he is not planning to donate to any political candidates in 2024, according to two people close to the businessman.

No Labels is getting on state ballots, drawing a lawsuit and concerns about a spoiler
Ben Giles, NPR News

The centrist political group No Labels is getting on the ballot in individual states, causing consternation among members of the major political parties about the organization’s endgame.

Florida GOP lawmakers ready move allowing DeSantis to run for president without resigning
Gary Fineout, Politico

With time running out on this year’s annual session, Senate Republicans will add the provision to a sweeping elections bill.

Republican leaders seek “disciplinary consequences” for silenced Montana transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr, letter says
Faris Tanyos, CBS News

A Montana transgender state House member who has been prevented by her Republican colleagues from debating a bill on the House floor that would ban gender-affirming care for minors announced late Tuesday that she will be subject to a disciplinary vote on Wednesday. 

Washington State bans assault weapons
Austin Jenkins, Pluribus News

It’s the second state to do so this year and the 10th overall.

Red States to Reap the Biggest Rewards From Biden’s Climate Package
Saijel Kishan et al., Bloomberg

The global impact of the Inflation Reduction Act is still shaking out, but within the US it’s GOP-leaning states that stand to gain the most investment. 

Ad Flap Leaves Bitter Aftertaste for Bud Light and Warning for Big Business
Charles Homans, The New York Times

Bud Light’s marketing effort with a transgender influencer has put it “in the center of the culture wars in a way that no company could possibly want to be,” one observer said.

Retired NSA director won lucrative consulting deals with Saudis, Japan
Craig Whitlock and Nate Jones, The Washington Post

Retired Army Gen. Keith Alexander, who led the National Security Agency under Presidents Obama and George W. Bush, secured $2 million in consulting deals with foreign governments after leaving office, including a $700,000 contract to advise Saudi Arabia on cybersecurity after the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, newly released records show.

Why Biden Can Win in 2024
Lis Smith, The New York Times

In 2024, the fate of the Democratic Party will rest in the hands of an 81-year-old incumbent president whom a majority of the country disapproves of and even many Democratic voters think should step aside rather than run for re-election.

An Early, Early Look at Biden’s 2024 Prospects
Nate Cohn, The New York Times

Almost every recent poll shows a highly competitive presidential race.

The analyst who saw through 2022’s red mirage has a prediction for Biden 2024
Greg Sargent, The Washington Post

Throughout the 2022 elections, Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg offered up a counterintuitive diagnosis: Confident GOP predictions of a “red wave” weren’t just wrong, they were designed to deenergize Democratic voters with “negative sentiment.” He insisted Democrats would ignore this script and that MAGA extremism would alienate the mainstream.